Are you willing to dedicate your expertise to the healthcare sector but you don’t have the time and resources to complete your medical degree? Well then, you have come to the right place because there is still a way you can devote your time to the medical health sector.
And that’s not even the best part, we have come up with a list of three-month programs that are certified which means that all the knowledge and experience you gain from these programs will be recognized by organizations. Being able to land an internship is just the cherry on top!
Another plus factor about these 3 months certified programs is that they are affordable and are time efficient! How convenient!
List of 13 Short Term Medical Certificate Programs
So what are you waiting for, Lets jump right into these programs
#1 Cardiac Monitor Technician
A cardiac monitor technician, also known as an EKG technician and cardiographic technician, is a short and affordable certified program.
This certified program usually takes upto 3 months. These technicians work with a cardiologist and play a significant role in the life of a cardiac patient. Their work revolves around monitoring a patient’s heart rate and interpreting the heart rhythms using telemetry equipment.
To become a cardiac monitor technician, it is important to have knowledge relating to electrocardiograms, stress tests, patient surveillance, and interpretation of their results. All of this can be covered through the certified programs.
According to Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC) employment of cardiac monitors, technicians is predicted to increase by 22% until 2024. Which makes now the perfect time to begin this course!
The great part is the salary a technician makes which is approximately $56,798 annually for an average technician. So if you possess great skills in your work, these bucks are worth it!
#2 Medical Coding and Billing Specialist
These specialists are a key source for hospitals and clinics since they manage insurance claims, invoices, and payments.
The work of a coding and billing specialist includes
- Accurate coding of services, procedures, and treatment
- Preparing invoices
- Tracking payments
- Checking up with patients and insurance companies for any amount overdue
These specialists have a very high demand as there is a rise in the aging population that needs health care services and hence hospitals need more skilled workers who can translate patients’ information into standard language accessible to the healthcare team.
According to the Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA), this field has projected an increase in employment resulting in 129,000 new jobs. The program takes around 2 to 8 months depending on the type of certification you choose with an average annual salary of $39,180.
#3 Phlebotomist
A phlebotomist is a certified medical professional which holds expertise in extracting blood from patients and carrying out blood tests and urine tests.
Not a lot of knowledge is required to become a phlebotomist and its certified program usually takes three months to complete alongside training which gives you experience on how to handle situations with patients.
The salary of a phlebotomist is $31,425. But here’s a little secret about the phlebotomist certification – you can also work as a medical assistant and a medical lab technician with a phlebotomist certificate.
#4 Physical Therapy Assistant
Physical therapy assistants usually work under the guidance of physical therapists. They play an important role in helping people regain their strength from injuries and diseases.
Physical therapy assistants work in various environments ranging from hospitals, nursing care, and schools. According to the US News and World Report job ranking, it is considered as a top healthcare support job as they play a critical role in the health care system and are constantly with their patient.
A physical therapist assistant on average earns $59,440 however this can vary according to location and experience.
If you are eager to help the people around you, then this is definitely the course for you.
#5 Paramedic
A paramedic is a noble medical profession who provides emergency services to patients in life-threatening situations. Paramedics have a high grade because of the responsibility that they hold.
During the paramedic course, you will learn how to stabilize patients and deal with stressful environments and nervous patients.
A paramedic on average earns $38,830 with the certified training program taking up to 3 months.
#6 Medical Assistant
Medical assistants are healthcare professionals. A medical assistant works alongside physicians and doctors in hospitals and clinics.
The work of a medical assistant varies from taking the medical history of the patient to preparing them for examination and treatment procedures. Medical assistants work hand in hand with the physician and the patient and act as the middle source of communication.
The demand for medical assistants is likely to rise in the near future as there is a growing number of elderly whose medical needs need to be tended to. Alongside there is an expected surge in the number of physician offices resulting in greater demand for medical assistant medical.
You can complete a certified medical assistant program in three months or more and make a yearly earning of $36,930 on average.
#7 Medical Front Office Administration Specialist
The medical front office administration specialist has daily interactions with all patients and acts as the first mode of interaction with patients checking at the front reception.
The work of an administration specialist includes scheduling appointments for the patients, providing telephone customer service and record management, and makes an average of $31,454 and up to 3 months for completing the certified program and training.
#8 Pharmacy Technician
A pharmacy technician works under the supervision of the pharmacist and helps the patients with their prescribed medicines, informing them of the side effects and other important details concerning the medicines. They make an average of $34,020 and the good part is that you can do this part-time along with your work or education!
#9 Behavioral Technician Specialist
A behavioral technician works in clinical hospitals to provide treatment plans for autistic children. These specialists are constantly around their patients helping them with daily living activities like eating, dressing up, and taking part in group counseling sessions with their patients.
To become a behavioral technician specialist is rather easy. After passing the eligibility criteria, it takes approximately 40 hours of training to become a certified behavioral technician earning $32,332 on average.
#10 Patient Care Technician
Patient care technicians play a major role in supporting the medical staff concerning care for patients with physical and mental health concerns.
This job might keep you on your toes all day but it is also very rewarding since you are doing it to save someone’s life. Every single work of the patient care technician has to be dealt with utmost care and efficiency because it is important for fit survival of the patient.
These technicians hold numerous responsibilities. They have to check and keep a track of the patient’s blood pressure and pulse on a daily basis, monitor their food intake, and keep the healthcare team up to date with the condition of the patient. Alongside this, a patient care technician also needs to provide emotional support and guidance to their patient.
Patient care technicians work in various environments varying from the nursing home, to hospitals to old houses and often provide 24/7 of their time to their patients.
On average a patient care technician can make $27,510 yearly with only 3 months of training.
#11 Surgical Technologist
Surgical technologists play a vital role in the operation setting. They make sure that all surgical instruments are sterile, arrange all the equipment, and assist with the operation.
Since they play a key role in the operation procedure, they on average earn $51,510 per year and this program can easily be completed through a short certified medical program.
#12 Clinic Healthcare Research Management Certificate
This certificate is designed for medical professionals and students who are looking to increase their knowledge regarding clinical research. Clinic research involves the effectiveness of the medication, diagnostic products, etc.
In general, the good part of a clinic healthcare management certificate is that it can help you with a lot of opportunities in the future as one can pursue various career paths with this certificate.
#13 IT Professional
Every organization be it a business or a hospital needs IT professionals to keep their softwares up to date and all the records digitised. Another major reason why IT professionals are required in every form is to protect their information from hackers and cyber crimes.
For the very same reason, there is an IT department in hospitals and clinics as well. Their systems contain crucial information about the hospital and its patients which needs to be protected from any type of scam.
An IT professional earns approximately $82,850 yearly. That’s a pretty nice figure to be earning with a 3 month certified course. To gain an IT program certificate is easy and not very time consuming.
And the plus point of this certificate is that it does not restrict you to one field. You can switch from medical to other business firms with the label of an IT professional since its demand is everywhere and rising.
So far we have covered 13 different certified programs which can be of great knowledge and experience. An advantage of these programs is that they are not very time-consuming, which means that you can enroll in these courses alongside your education or work. And the internship these certified programs offer can also be part-time or full time, depending on your availability.
So far, it’s all in your favor. These certified programs and internships are feasible and will definitely come in handy in the future!
Have you made your decision or are you still thinking about what to pursue? If you have made your decision, that is amazing! Don’t waste time and enroll yourself in the program of your choice.
But if you are still not sure if it is a good option to invest your time in these programs, don’t worry, we have got you covered
If you are wondering if a certified program is worth over a degree, don’t leave just yet!
To answer your question, yes these certified medical programs are definitely worth your time and resources. A college degree is not always the only option to land a job; you can get certificates for various programs in as little as three months to a year as well but alongside the certifications, you will have gained a lot of knowledge and experience as well which is worthwhile.
These certificates play an important role in determining your job. It provides evidence to the employer that you have knowledge of the field you are willing to pursue. With your certificate, you can exhibit that you are a trained professional in your field.
If you are still doubtful whether certificates hold worth over degrees, let us not forget that certification is standardized; however, a degree can hold your schooling and education accountable for your job offer. Certified programs enhance you with the skills and knowledge you need for your particular field whereas while going for a degree, you will also have to deal with many other subjects which can also hinder your qualifications in the desired field.